RipCityPilot wrote:This is great to hear that someone has committed to UP. Can't we only take one recruit this year? We are only losing Rogers this season.

I think we still have one from Timmy leaving

I think RipCityPilot is right. We had two scholarships open due to graduation (Mitrovic and Waterford) and one due to Douglas' transfer. Three total. We have three incoming scholarship players (Ehlers, Pressley, Reinfelds). That fills all of this year's available spots.

Next year Rodgers will be the only graduate. So, unless we have more transfers, there is only one available scholarship for 2013.

The 5í9 dynamo, another prospect in attendance fresh from the DTCC, showed poise and patience during the two games I observed him in. His compact frame is rock solid from head to toe and itís no secret why guards have a hard time staying in front of him. His first step isnít lightning quick but itís not far from it. His strength and quicks along with his ability to put the ball on the deck make it nearly impossible for most defenders to keep him out of the lane. He made winning plays. When someone was open, he found them. When his team was down 3 with under a minute to play, he demanded the ball and buried a game-tying bomb. Very sure of himself without being cocky, the only thing shielding Wintering from more high major attention at this point is his height. Can he guard guys his position who is 8 inches taller than him? Itís a legitimate question that college coaches may have and one that Iíd like to see answered too.

Sounds like maybe he's in the TJ Campbell mold. 5'9 and "rock solid from head to toe."

Last edited by NoPoNeighbor on Wed Aug 01, 2012 6:01 pm; edited 2 times in total (Reason for editing : added more info)

It would be interesting to see how the ESPN ratings of players at the mid major level translate into performance. My impression is that below the top recruits they do not spend sufficient time to give particularly accurate ratings . . .at least in some cases. The fact that he had multiple D1 offers, more than Carr I believe, may be a better indicator of his college potential.

BTW, in related news the Oregonian 6A POY, Calvin Hermanson, just committed to the Gaels. I wish we could for once get in on locals with credentials--in this case he spurned the Beavers too.

PurpleGeezer wrote:So, if Alec is it for recruiting for next year, it looks like the staff can double up on the morning golf rounds for a year, eh?

Umm, probably not. Word is the coaches have been hard at work at all the AAU tournaments in the US, and in Europe watching the U16 championships in Bucharest and Vilnius looking at ways to fill the 2014 and 2015 incoming classes.

Since that's it for 2013 recruiting, let's look ahead to the 2014 class...

If averything goes according to plan, in the Spring of 2014 we'll be losing three scholarship players: Riley, Thieleke, and Nicholas.

So, what positions should we be looking to fill with three 2014 scholarship spots? I'd say center is a priority, as both of our big men will be seniors in 2014-15. Landing a quality center in the 2014 class would prevent us from repeating this past season's experience in 2015-16, in which all of our post players were freshmen. We'll probably also be in need of another power forward who can play inside and shoot from mid-range, ala Nicholas. And then with the third spot, maybe a wing/shooting guard to take over from K. Bailey and Carr, who will be seniors in 14-15.

Didnít know whether to file this post under ďI Love TJ CampbellĒ or here under ďAlec Wintering to Portland.Ē

So, I asked myself a few weeks back, why the heck would Alec Wintering come from North Carolina to UP? It turns out the answer is a simple one, and itís a good lesson in why we elders should set a good example with impressionable youngsters.

Before moving to NC to live with his brother, Alec lived in Phoenix, and for two years went to the same high school that TJ once attended, Sunnyslope. While at Sunnyslope Alec had the opportunity to work out and play with TJ, and TJ became a bit of a ďhero/idolĒ to Alec. It was during those sessions that TJ related his very positive experience as a Pilot and his great admiration for the coaching staff. That, in a nutshell, is why Alec committed to UP.

It turns out Duquesne, Florida International, Manhattan and Iona, made offers for Alec, and he was getting attention from Gonzaga, St. Johns, Clemson, and Richmond.

Oh, and speaking of coaches, some of you older readers may have heard of the one-time NBA first-round pick and 13 year NBA veteran point guard who is Alecís coach at United Faith Christian Academy; itís Muggsy Bogues, all 5í3Ē of him! If anyone can coach a smallish PG, Alec is 5í9Ē (so far), itís probably Muggsy.

Makes me wonder if Campbell also helped with the other side of this recruiting relationship, i.e. did he give Reveno the heads-up about Wintering, or encourage him to give Wintering a hard look? These kinds of connections can be really important for mid-major programs!

Also, from watching the YouTube clips, Wintering's stay of play (and body type) seems straight out of the TJ Campbell mold. I think this is a really good pick-up for the Pilots.

RipCityPilot wrote:What happens if other players decide to commit to UP in addition to Wintering? Does one go without a scholarship or do we withdraw those other offers?

Is that just a hypothetical question?

We have no other offers out, nor do we have any planned for the high school class of 2013!

We currently have two walk-on players, David Ahern and Taylor Mossman, and 13 scholarship players. If anyone else would like to commit to walk-on, that's fine....there is no limit by rule, but there are a limited number of seats on the bench.

In the recruiting "game," a school may make a "top 5" list of players that all schools may be going for, and a "second 5" list of players the school would really like to have and may have a legitimate shot at. IF Perrantas and Jackson were made offers, they did not respond in an affirmative manner, and the staff moved on. Any recruit that may have been made an offer will know right away if the offer is withdrawn and/or no scholarships are available.

I hope that answers the question a little better....there are no active offers on the table; all who may have been made offers know the offer has been withdrawn.

Let me just say, that Alec Wintering was on "top 5 list." He brings the qualities that UP/Rev requires. Good in the classroom, toughness, the desire to be better than anyone else, and the personality to work his tail off to achieve his goals. Heís got one more year in high school, and a lot of room to grow and get even better.